Donald Trump taking credit for Rosie O'Donnell's 'The View' "firing"

By Christopher Rocchio, 04/26/2007

Donald Trump thinks his archnemesis Rosie O'Donnell was fired as co-host of The View, and of course, he's taking credit for it.

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The Apprentice star said he believes that a vulgarity-laced tirade aimed at him and delivered by O'Donnell during Monday's Matrix Awards Luncheon in New York City led to the Wednesday announcement by ABC that she'd be leaving as co-host of The View in mid-June because the two side were unable to reach a contract agreement.

"Rosie is a loser, I told you many times this was going to happen. She self-destructs all the time," Trump told Access Hollywood co-host Billy Bush during Wednesday's broadcast of the entertainment news program. "I find her to be a very unattractive person. I mean, both inside and out. Actually inside, she's less attractive then she is outside, and that's tough."

ABC announced on Wednesday that O'Donnell was leaving The View because the broadcast network wanted her to sign a three-year deal as co-host of the talk show, while she only wanted a one-year deal. The differing contract lengths couldn't be overcome, reportedly causing O'Donnell to walk away from the show.

Not so fast, says Trump, as he pointed out the announcement that O'Donnell was leaving The View came only a few days after she spoke at the Matrix Awards Luncheon, which annually honors women from for their achievements and leadership roles in various media-related professions. O'Donnell's The View co-host Barbara Walters is a past recipient of the award, and was at Monday's luncheon, where O'Donnell spoke.

"It's been my goal, for many years, to give a bald billionaire a [expletive]," said O'Donnell at the luncheon, obviously referring to Trump. "That comb-over wimp-ass goes after [Walters] instead of me. Come here buddy, eat my [expletive]!" As she made that last comment, O'Donnell grabbed her crotch.

"Rosie said something that was absolutely disgusting... she grabbed her crotch, and referring to me said [expletive] in the meanest, ugliest face you've ever seen," Trump told Access Hollywood. "In-front of 2,000 people -- many of them young aspiring women -- and I think that was probably the straw that broke the camel's back. I believe that's the reason she got fired, according to what I've heard."

When Access Hollywood correspondent Billy Bush reminded The Donald why ABC and O'Donnell stated she was leaving The View and also reiterated she wasn't actually fired, Trump said he wasn't buying it and stuck to his allegations.

"I don't believe it. I think ABC wanted her out," he told Access Hollywood. "They were embarrassed by her... and she made Barbara Walters look like her lap dog."

Trump's comments rekindled a feud The Apprentice star and The View co-host had that began in early January when The Donald announced Miss USA Tara Connor would keep her title, which was in jeopardy due to underage drinking. As part of her agreement with Trump, Connor entered an in-patient substance abuse rehabilitation center. O'Donnell said Trump, who is twice divorced, had no right to be "the moral compass for 20-year-olds in America," sparking a string of nasty media exchanges between the pair.